Price$8.95
Media TypeTrick, Online Instructions, Gimmick(s)
CategoryGeneral, Close Up
Date AddedJul 03, 2024
PRINCESS CARD
Apprentice Magic
APPRENTICE
(Based on 2 reviews)
Apprentice products come complete with all necessary props, online instructions as well as a great storyline to capture the imagination of your audience. The Apprentice Line of magic is focused toward beginners yet, many professional magicians around the world use these same tricks in their live shows. Learn magic the right way with the Apprentice Line of magic!
- Easy to perform!
- Self working!
- No sleight of hand!
- Easy to learn!
- Online video instructions!
- All props included!
- Performance tips!
- Story / patter included!
- Great quality!
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Overview
The Princess Card Trick by Apprentice Magic is one of more than two dozen classics of magic redesigned for today’s beginning magician. Originally created by Henry Hardin, is was first put in print by Nelson Downs in 1909 in his book The Art of Magic. Incredibly clever, amazingly fooling and so simple to perform, the Princess Card Trick has baffled spectators for more than a century. How does the version by Apprentice Magic measure up to the versions that have proceeded it? If you would like to know how, read on.Effect
The performer fans out five court cards and shows them to the participant and asks the participant to think of one. Turning the face of the cards back to himself, the performer furrows his brow and removes the card he senses the participant is thinking of. He turns the cards back to the participant and asks if he successfully removed the thought of card. The amazed participant answers yes.Method
This classic of magic is not only easily performed but has entertained, amazed and baffled all those who do not know its hidden secret. The effect is so popular that it is not only performed in impromptu situations but is also featured on many performers’ website in electronic versions. The performer doesn’t even have to be in the same country as the spectator, all they need to do is to see the cards and think of one. The method relies on special cards and an incredibly innocuous move. If anyone can rotate a packet of five cards, they can perform this trick.Product Quality
This version relies on the same methodology as every other version that existed before. Some creators have expanded on the idea and added an extra phase but the basic concept is the same. As such, I feel that if a new version is going to be released, it should be as good if not better that what is already available. Unfortunately, even though the method is exactly as others I’m not particularly fond of the cards provided or the quality of the instructional. The cards are (in my opinion) cheaply made. For the asking price, I don’t know why a quality card like a Bicycle playing card wasn’t supplied. In addition, the cards are a size not normally used for magic. In this release bridge sized playing cards are supplied while virtually every modern magic trick uses poker sized cards. The cards look cheap and do not appear to be of good quality. Finally, the court cards are odd looking as well. They resemble but fall very short of the well designed and artful Bicycle court cards. The instructional is another issue. Other than the basic handling, one doesn’t learn much more. The video opens with Javier Fuernmayer performing for the purchaser of the trick and he does it wrong. Why wouldn’t they reshoot that 30 seconds? In this digital age, it costs nothing to redo a shot, why would anyone want to demonstrate a failing performance, especially to new magicians? In addition, the interesting storyline that was supposed to be provided was non-existent as well. The lead in tale of a mind reading princess sounds more like a “once upon a time” tale than a professional presentation.The product falls short on the quality of the cards and the instructional. I would have expected more of an effort in both regards. There are some Apprentice Magic items I am totally thrilled with but this leaves me a bit disappointed.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy claims that every Apprentice Magic item comes with an interesting and captivating presentation. In some cases they do but not in this case.Final Thoughts
As far as The Princess Card Trick, it is all about the cards, I would simply buy these in Bicycle cards and look on YouTube as various performances. If this came with a better quality cards, I would have been more forgiving but the cards really turned me off.(Top ▲)
Overview
5 cards, 8:43 of Javier, $9.00 and one Princess Card Trick Magic Review.Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect
The magician seems to be able read the mind of the spectator. 5 cards are shown. One is thought of. The magician removes one card. The rest of the cards are shown to the participant again. Her thought of card is gone.Method
The gimmicked cards do all the work.Product Quality
The cards are kind of cheaply made. In fact when I first opened mine, I couldn't get them to spread apart at all. But after a while of playing with them, they work just fine. They look good as well, and since the participant will never handle the cards, there are no issues.The tutorial in very short, but it doesn't need to be any longer. The only thing I will point out is that during the performance section of the tutorial, Javier performs the trick for the viewers at home (i.e., me), and it failed because he did it wrong. He basically lost track of the way he was handling the cards, and I think he realized it because he suddenly just rushed through the rest of that part of the video. He then followed by saying "did I get your card?" (to the camera). Followed by "Most of the time we get it." Followed by "pretty much every time, you're gonna get it."
This would likely be very confusing to a new person (the intended market) in magic. Because (unless you screw it up like Javier did) you will always "get it." It's automatic as long as you pay attention.
I think they should have just re-shot that part. Otherwise, the product quality is good.
Ad Copy Integrity
Claim: "Apprentice products come complete with all necessary props, online instructions as well as a great storyline to capture the imagination of your audience."Props: yes. Online Instructions: yes. Great storyline: not even close.
Javier seems to attempt to talk about some princess who had some power, but it was a half-baked "plot" with a lot of clearly unscripted and un-thought-out "patter" (in the worst sense of the word).
It was rushed, messy, and it wasn't until almost near the end of it that I realized that "this was the 'story.'" I thought he was just sort of doing the trick for the camera / viewers. Also as part of the performance patter he teaches, he uses the name of the trick. Once you do that, you're audience will have what they need to find the method online. Not good.
Other than that, the ad copy is solid.
Final Thoughts
- Effect: Powerful.
- Method: Self-Working.
- Product Quality: Decent.
- Ad Copy Integrity: Mostly Solid.
Generally speaking I like the Apprentice product line from Murphy's. They are beautifully packaged, and sturdily packaged. They're bringing attention to some classic tricks that got many of us into magic, including myself.
The price is right, and they're doing a great job capturing the spirit and feelings that I remember having as a kid when I first starting learning about magic. I think they're truly inspiring a younger generation with this product line.
That said, this one fell short of the goal in a couple of places as mentioned above. But other than that, this product is solid.
Final Verdict:
3.5 Stars with a Stone Status of gem.
Suggestions
If you happen to own Max Maven's B'WAVE DELUXE then you have the cards you need to do this effect.Lastly, this effect is public domain, originally published in 1909 by Henry Hardin. You can find it here, secret and all.